Throughout this year, SOIB — through its specialised service SOIB Dona — has assisted 300 women who have survived gender-based violence and wish to re-enter the labour market. The figures were presented during the roundtable “Economic autonomy, equality and labour inclusion as tools against gender violence”, held to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Catalina Cabrer, Minister of Labour, Public Function and Social Dialogue, opened the event by highlighting the strength, resilience and determination of women. She emphasised that institutions must provide the tools that allow them to regain control over their lives, make decisions and build a future based on autonomy.

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SOIB supports 300 women this year who seek to rebuild their working lives after experiencing gender-based violence

Cabrer stressed that the department focuses on empowerment rather than the condition of being a victim. At present, SOIB Dona manages 140 fully subsidised one-year employment contracts for women who have experienced gender-based violence — “140 lives being rebuilt”, as she described.

She also underlined the recent budget increase of 1.8 million euros for the programme “SOIB Employment Opportunities for Women”, bringing the total allocation to 7.8 million euros and enabling more women to access secure employment pathways.

The session featured contributions from IBDONA director Catalina Salom; SOIB director María Luján Olivera; IFOC Calvià manager Raquel Fernández; and PREDIF representative Emilie Samarcq, moderated by Margalida Darder, Director-General for Work-Life Balance and Equality in the Workplace.

One of the most emotional moments of the event was the testimony of a survivor who described how contacting SOIB Dona changed her life: “I arrived without a job, with debts and no way out. Asking for that appointment was the beginning of a new path.” A year later, she has recovered physically and emotionally and has re-entered the labour market independently.

The speakers highlighted the importance of personalised support, company training and workplace flexibility to ensure successful and safe labour inclusion. SOIB currently has 15 specialised tutors who have supported 300 women this year. Since the programme began, more than 1,200 women have secured employment.